April 29, 2015

EP: Coup Sauvage & the Snips - Psalms from Ward 9

Coup Sauvage & the Snips promotes social justice while making you dance.

In 2015, it can be overwhelming to be aware of everything that’s happening around us. As a ~millennial~ who resides in an apartment without cable, I get all of my news in passing or online. I rarely listen to the radio because living in a city – Washington, D.C. to be specific – does not require the possession of a car. However, when I pull a Drizzy and request an Uber, the local run-down of the newsworthy events tunes out all the other noise. Those times made me notice that it seemed like there weren’t enough artists speaking up about the injustices of our time. I mean, sure, some of them talk about them if asked to comment in an interview or tweet out a hashtag here and there, but they aren’t voluntarily showing support of their own free will. At least not outside of the hip-hop/rap community.
Behold Coup Sauvage & the Snips, the D.C.-based powerhouse that addresses social and political problems head on through funky dance-pop music.

About their new remix EP, Psalms from Ward 9, Coup Sauvage & the Snips says, “Music got us through Reagan. It helped us survive Bush. Coup Sauvage & the Snips will get you through this…if you’re paying attention.” The six piece group is influenced by 60’s Motown, 70’s European variety shows, 80’s Solid Gold dancers, and 90’s warehouse parties. “Ward 9” is a reference to Prince George's "PG" County, a suburb in D.C. that has become a last resort for the marginalized.
Psalms From Ward 9 kicks off with JD Samson’s (of Le Tigre and MEN) remix of the feisty “(Don’t Touch My) Hair,” which will surely become an anthem for anyone who has experienced this unwanted form of attention. As irritating as the whole ordeal can be, Coup Sauvage & the Snips’ song serves as both a critique to educate and inform, and a topic of conversation to engage with your friends. The beat on this track is sizzling, but the candid commentary is what really moves it along – the dialogue had me cracking up as I recalled some of the awkward scenarios that my hair has gotten me into. “Requiem for a Mountaintop” honors the victims of police brutality and addresses the #blacklivesmatter movement; similar to our reality, it’s a slow march for solidarity. The dub mix version provides an ample amount of time to release all of your frustrations on the dance floor before the EP closes with “Sneaks (Meagan Sauvage),” the A-side of CSTS’s debut 7-inch.
In the group’s own words, “‘Cause who says protest music can’t be radical and glamorous?” Amen. When actions fail, music speaks, and Coup Sauvage & the Snips is loud and proud.

STREAM IT: Psalms from Ward 9 by Coup Sauvage & the SnipsListen to Coup Sauvage & the Snips onbandcamp.THIS STAFF POST WAS CONTRIBUTED BY:
Sydney Gore is a woman of many titles: Champagne Papi Pacify Princess, The Coolest Syd on The Block, and
*~*~* professional Drake enthusiast *~*~* are some of them. Sydney is a native of South Jersey and freelance writes for a few of her favorite websites and magazines. She is still convinced that her life is a cancelled ‘90s sitcom— all the evidence can be found here.